VANI organised a Regional Workshop in Good Governance in Civil Society Organisations, in association with Irish Aid. The objective of the workshop was to educate, sensitise and motivate members of Civil Society Organisations to follow prescribed norms and good practices of Governance and Management. The workshop was attended by around 100 participants from the North-East Region of India.

The workshop sought to promote issues of Good Governance among its members /non members. The content of the workshop focussed on Ethics in CSO Governance; The Board and Governing Body ; Accounts and Accounting Procedures ; Adherence to Legislations / Statutory Compliance; Programme Accountability; Gender Mainstreaming; Role of media in promoting Good Governance.

VANI, with CODE NGO, Philippines organised a workshop in Manila on 20th and 21st August, 2008. The objectives of the workshop were:

• To gain mutual understanding of the NGO sector situations in both countries, India and the Philippines, particularly on issues related to networking and good governance.
• To explore/identify common areas of interest concerning good governance and accountability on which both countries can continue to share and exchange information, experiences and lessons or work together on common projects.
• To develop an understanding of the basis to work jointly to voice the local developmental mandates in the global arena. Workshop Agenda

VANI participated in the meeting at UN Plaza New York on 21st – 22nd July 2008, exploring the role that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can play in implementing the UN Strategy. Convened by Center on Global Counter Terrorism Cooperation and sponsored by Governments of Sweden and Germany the workshop had representatives from around the world and different parts of the UN system. All contributed their rich experience and inputs.

This meeting was convened under the Chatham House Rules. Perspective of Paresh Tewary (CEO, VANI).

Participants discussed
1) the role that CSOs can play in implementing the Strategy across all four of its pillars and on how more clearly to define (and perhaps expand)the role, while avoiding any pretense of instrumentalizing CSOs;
2) the negative impact that certain counterterrorism measures (CTMs) adopted by some states have had on the ability of CSOs to operate;
3) the challenges that need to be overcome to allow deeper engagement between CSOs and the UN system in the context of the Strategy and how to overcome these challenges; and
4) the benefits that might accrue to CSOs as a result of their more active support for the implementation of the Strategy.

THE UN GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY

VANI organized a state level consultation on National Policy on the Voluntary Sector on 2nd & 3rd July 2008 at Guwahati in association with CASA, Assam. Ms. Bondita Acharya of Indo Global Social Service Society gave the welcome address. There were 30 NGOs representatives from different locations of the state attended this meeting & dwelt upon their views.

Mr. Paresh Tewary, Chief Executive Officer of VANI, introduced the Consultation Workshop and briefed about the aim and objective of the programme. Shri. Natwar Thakkar, Mr. Walter Fernandez, Renu Sereng, Dilip Sharma and Anurita Pathak were the key speakers at the different session of the consultation workshop.

VANI works to promote practice of good governance in the voluntary sector and as part of its broad activities. The aim is to spread the issues of good governance—legitimacy, transparency and accountability—and to promote participation of marginalized people in decision-making processes.

It is in this context that VANI has organized a Regional workshop to promote issues of Good Governance among its members /non members in the Northern Region on 27th -28th June, 2008.

Objectives of the workshop:

The key eminent speakers on the occasion were Mr. Paresh Tewary, CEO (VANI), Mr. Manoj Fogla(Chartered Accountant) ; Mr. Partha Rudra (National Foundation For India), Jayant Kumar (Church’s Auxillary for Social Action (CASA), Mr. Mazar Hussain, (Confederation of Voluntary Association (COVA); Sh. Anil Baranwal (AccountAid India); Mr. Joselyn Martins (J.A. Martins & Co.)Chartered Accountant; Mr. S. Sen (CII – Confederation of Indian Industry), Mr.Amarendra K. Singh(World Bank), Ms. Purvi Das (PRIA) ; Mr. Mathew Titus (Sa-dhan); Ms. Tulika Saxena (PRIA); Mr. Pradeep Kumar( NDTV India).The workshop was totally participative and entailed thoughtful discussions across the table.

VANI organized a state level consultation on National Policy on the Voluntary Sector on 22nd & 23rd May 2008 at Dehradun in association with DISHA social organization, Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh). The objective of the two-day consultation was to share and debate on the National Policy on Voluntary Sector with prominent Non-Government Organizations of Uttarakhand, along with an interface with the state government, so as to initiate and arrive with a similar policy document for the state. The workshop was inaugurated by the chief guest Harbans Kapoor, the Speaker, Uttarakhand Assembly by lighting the lamp. There were 60 NGOs representatives from different locations of the state sharing their views.

The consultation process began with the formal welcome address & presentation on broad framework of the consultation by Mr. K.N.Tiwari, Director, DISHA Social Organization. Mr. Paresh Tewari, the Chief Executive of VANI, introduced the subject and spelled out the aim and objective of the consultation workshop. Mr. Avadhesh Kaushal (RLEK), Mr. R.R. Fartardo (SMTA), Mr. J.M.Singh (MAMTA), Ms. Vibha Puri Das, Principal Secretary, Rural & Forest Development (Govt. of Uttrarakhand), Mr. Cyril R. Raphel (SBMA), Ms. Renu Thakur (ARPAN), Mr. Pooran Bertwal, (SAMBANDH Network), Mr. Mahendra Singh Kunwar (HARC), Mr. Soloman Prakash (UKVHA), Ms. Madhu Singh (OPEN), Mr. Pawan Gupta (SIDH), Mr. Diwakar Bhatt (UPVAN) were the important speakers at the different session of the consultation workshop.

At the end of the workshop it was unanimously decided to form a ten member’s state level core committee to develop & prepare a draft policy document on voluntary sector for the Uttarakhand state. The core committee members will take on board their own point, and then thrash out amongst themselves and later discuss with the government to have the final draft policy. It was decided that the members will give their suggestion on the policy before 10th June followed by convening a meeting on 14th June to decide future course of action on the policy document.

The entire proceedings of the consultation meeting was covered by the noted print media from the state such as Hindustan(Hindi), Dainik Jagran(Hindi), Amar Ujala(Hindi) and Pioneer(English).

VANI in association with MASS EDUCATION-West Bengal organized a two-day state consultation meeting on National Policy on Voluntary Sector at 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Banquet Hall on 7th & 8th May 2008. Mass Education took the initiative to involve member of Civil Society of Manipur, NGOs including Trade Union Leaders, Political Leaders, Lawyers Association, Cultural organizations, Youth Association, Journalists etc. to discuss the issue on voluntary sector and make the issue in public. The consultation meeting was inaugurated by Dr. S. Budhi Chandra, the speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly by lighting a candle. There were 300 participants from all NGOs of life. The meeting began at 10.30 A.M.

The key eminent speakers on the occasion were Mr. Paresh Tewary, CEO (VANI), Mr. Sukumar Singh, Secretary (Mass-Education), Dr. Nara Singh, Ex-Minister (Manipur), Dr. Lalit Kumar, Deputy Advisor (Planning Commission, Government of India), Dr. Ashok Sarkar, Consultant (PRIA) Mr. Sardendu Banerjee, Mr. Abanish Kumar & Mr. L. Kerani.

A team of nine members include Mr. Paresh Tewary, Dr. Nara Singh, Mr. Sukumar Singh, Mr. Saradindu Banerjee, Dr. Ashok Sarkar, Mrs. Shila Singh, Mr. Yaima Singh, Mr. L. Kerani and Mr. Abanish Kumar met the Governor of Manipur, Dr. S.S. Sidhu on 6th May at 4.30 P.M. to apprise him of the forth coming state consultation meeting on voluntary sector and sought for his initiative to make the issue more popular and formulate a similar policy for the state. In order to bring attention of the public through media a Press Conference was organized on 4th of May at 4.00 P.M. at the Press Club where leading Print & Electronic Media had been briefed about the objective of this meeting on National Policy on Voluntary Sector and been urged to publish article and news about the voluntary sector so that voluntarism is encouraged and an opinion is formed to create pressure on the State Government to make state policy on voluntary sector. About 20 members of the local Press participated in the Press-Conference. The entire proceeding of the two day consultation was covered by press reporters.

At the end of the meeting a state level core committee comprise of 30 members elected & given the responsibility to prepare draft state policy on voluntary sector and taken decision to ask for state government approval.

VANI with Society for Environment & Rural Awakening (ERA) and Mountain Forum Himalayas (MFH) organized a two day Consultation on National Policy for Voluntary Sector at YMCA Shimla. Participants from 40 Voluntary Organizations (VO’s) from different parts of Himachal Pradesh were present at the event. The consultation was inaugurated by Dr. Ramlal Markande- Former Minister, Himachal Pradesh Government.

Key eminent speakers on the issue were Mr. Paresh Tewary, CEO, (VANI), Shri. Parsram Ramesh (Exec. Dir. LKM), Shri Dr. Ramlal Markande, Ms. Sadhna Gautam (Mahila Vikas Mancg, Chamba) & Shri. Sukhdev Vishvpremi(RTDC), Shri Sushil Kumar Sharma, Exec. President, Academy of Hill Development Sciences.

The entire proceeding of the event was covered by press reporters from noted news agencies like Punjab Kesari, Ajit Samachar, Channel9, City News, Divya Himachal, Zee Himachal to name a few who covered the entire proceeding of the event.

The participants of the workshop elected a core committee of 7 people who will work on creating a Draft policy, to be adopted for the state of Himachal and will submit the same to the govt. The process is planned to be time bound for which the meeting of the core committee members is scheduled in YMCA on 24th April 2008.

The current Budget proposes to amend the definition of "Charitable Purposes" under section 2(15).This has raised certain issues and concerns amongst Voluntary Organisations. To address this issue Voluntary Action Network (VANI) organised a meeting on Monday, 7th April, 2008 at VANI Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by Financial Heads / Representatives of 15 organisations which included Helpage, FMSF, AccountAid, Resource Alliance, Centre for Science and Environment, CAF-Charities Aid Foundation, Toxics Link, DEEPALAYA, People's Institute for Development and Training, Plan India , Indo-German Social Service Society (IGSSS). …..

The purpose of the meeting was:

A number of inputs and views were shared across the table in understanding the nature as well as interpretation of this amendment. It was felt that the amendment in the definition of charitable purposes in the proposed Budget, 2008 would impact the Voluntary Sector in ways more than one. Consequently, it was decided that FMSF and AccountAid in association with VANI would draft a Memorandum to be submitted to the Finance Minister; Chairman, CBDT. In addition to this, VANI would continue its advocacy /information dissemination initiatives among member organisations in regarding the issue. 

Consultation on pre-budget memorandum and Simplification of tax laws for the voluntary sector

VANI has been advocating with CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) to simplify tax laws for voluntary sector for some time now. In June 2006 VANI and FMSF had jointly organised a consultation to review tax exemptions/deductions for voluntary sector, as proposed by CBDT.

Memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Finance in January 2008

VANI initiated a national debate on the policy to increase awareness about it and to ensure its proper implementation and looking at ways of advocacy so that this policy is adopted by State Government at the state level.
Several state level consultations on National Policy on Voluntary Sector as follows :

• Bihar – 1st December 2007 , Patna
• Madhya Pradesh - 5th & 6th November 2007 ; Bhopal
• Maharashtra - 29th November 2007; Nagpur
• Uttar Pradesh - 17th August and 27th December 2007; Lucknow
• Jharkhand - 21st November 2007; Ranchi
• Chhattisgarh - 31st October; Raipur
• Orissa – 19th January 2008, Bhubneswar
• Tamil Nadu – 25th January 2008, Chennai
• Kerala – 14th February; Trivendrum
• Andhra Pradesh – 20th February; Hyderabad

The purpose is to build an understanding on the national policy among the voluntary organization in states, to understand the view points of Voluntary Organizations on the national policy for the states and to create a platform for advocating with state governments for the adoption of the policy at state level.